A baseball is traveling (+20 m/s) and is hit by a bat. It leaves the bat traveling (-30 m/s). What is the change in the velocity? Remember that direction is what makes velocity different than speed.

Question

Question 9 options:

50 m/s

30 m/s

20 m/s

10 m/s

Answer 1

To determine the change in velocity, you need to find the difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity of the baseball.

1. Initial velocity (before being hit by the bat): \( v_i = +20 , \text{m/s} \)
2. Final velocity (after being hit by the bat): \( v_f = -30 , \text{m/s} \)

The change in velocity (\( \Delta v \)) can be calculated using the formula:

\[ \Delta v = v_f - v_i \]

Plugging in the values:

\[ \Delta v = -30 , \text{m/s} - (+20 , \text{m/s}) \] \[ \Delta v = -30 , \text{m/s} - 20 , \text{m/s} = -50 , \text{m/s} \]

The change in velocity is \( -50 , \text{m/s} \).

Since you're asked for the magnitude of the change in velocity, you can express this as:

\[ |\Delta v| = 50 , \text{m/s} \]

Thus, the answer is:

50 m/s